Many readers called the hotline of Lao Dong Newspaper to ask: When traveling on the highway, how should the safe distance be followed to avoid risks and avoid being fined?
According to Circular 38/2024/TT-BGTVT (issued on November 15, 2024), in conditions of dry road surface, good visibility, no slippery, the minimum safety distance corresponding to each speed level has been clearly regulated. This is a mandatory technique when operating motor vehicles on highways.
Regarding sanctions, Article 6, Clause 5, Point d of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP clearly states: Drivers who do not keep a safe distance will be fined from 46 million VND and have 2 points deducted from their driving license. In case of violation causing an accident, the fine will increase to 2022 million VND and be deducted by 10 points.
Experts in the field of smart transportation said that the core reason lies in the fact that drivers often miscalculate the level of danger when running at high speeds. At 100 km/h, just one second of distraction is equivalent to 2530m of travel. If the front vehicle brakes suddenly, if the rear vehicle sticks too close, there will be almost no chance to handle it.
According to current regulations, the minimum safety distance includes:
V = 60 km/h: 35m
60 < V ≤ 80 km/h: 55m
80 < V ≤ 100 km/h: 70m
100 < V ≤ 120 km/h: 100m
In bad weather conditions such as rain, fog, slippery roads or steep passes, drivers must increase the distance greater than the prescribed distance or on the sign.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Thiem - Deputy Head of the Technical - Technology Department (Vidifi), Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway Management Unit, commented: If vehicles do not keep a safe distance, the risk of consecutive accidents is inevitable. In fact, a series of consecutive collisions in recent times have shown that many drivers still take the regulations lightly even though the fine is very clear.
Distance numbers are calculated based on learning motivation. The reaction distance - from the time of recognizing the danger to stepping on the brake - was nearly 30m. The braking distance from 100 km/h to 0 can be up to 4060m. If they only kept 2030m, the driver would put themselves in an inevitable situation of collision, Mr. Thiem analyzed.
According to technical experts, consecutive accidents on highways often come from four groups of causes: bad habits from national highways (running in the back, jostling the lane), safety illusion (believing that one's vehicle brakes well, has enough ABS), disturbance (using a phone, sleepiness, driving at night leading to a 0.5'1 second delay in reflection) and lack of technology supervision on some expressways.
To ensure distance, the "3 seconds" rule is considered the most practical method: choose a landmark on the road, if you only reach it 3 seconds after your vehicle, it means you are at a safe distance. When it rains or there is fog, this number should increase to 4 seconds because it is difficult for the naked eye to estimate the exact 70 or 100m.
Many traffic experts believe that to reduce continuous accidents, in addition to raising driver awareness, it is necessary to strongly apply the ITS system (smart communication): real-time distance measurement camera - radar, VMS electronic warning signs early congestion and speed adjustment according to weather conditions.
When there is continuous data, the control center can early identify high-density hot spots high speeds small distances to promptly warn of slowdown. Safe distance on the highway is not emotional, but scientific. defending is really protecting yourself, Mr. Thiem emphasized.
